Reusable blank cartridge and reloading assemblies

ABSTRACT

A reusable blank cartridge designed to provide safe firing of blanks by the use of loose powder and a hand insertable disc, and easy and quick reloading of fired blank cartridges by the use of reloading assemblies adapted to the particular blank cartridge used.

United States Patent 1191 Baumgartener 14 June 25, 1974 REUSABLE BLANK CARTRIDGE AND 3,354,571 11/1967 Parker 102/43 0 RELOADING ASSEMBLIES 3,359,903 12/1967 Sobolewski... 102/43 P 3,596,600 8/1971 Himmelsbach, Jr. 102/42 R Inventor: et a gart ner, 4 W. 3,621,781 11/1971 Johnsen 102/43 P Almora SL, Monterey Park, Calif. 3,706,256 12/1972 Grandy 102/43 F 91754 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] 1972 919,583 12/1946 France 102/43 P [21] Appl. No.: 223,653 616,755 1/1949 Great Britain 102/43 P Primary EXaminerRobert F. Stahl [52] U.S. Cl 102/41, 102/39, IOZ/gl/li Att0mey,.Agem or Firm John Joseph Hall" [51] Int. Cl. F42b 5/22 [58] Field of Search.... 102/42 R, 42 C, 43 R, 43 C, [57] ABSTRACT 102/43 38; 86/37 A reusable blank cartridge designed to provide safe firing of blanks by the use of loose powder and a hand [56] References Clted 1 1nsertablev d1sc, and easy and qu1ck reloading of fired UNITED STATES PATENTS blank cartridges by the use of reloading assemblies 3,026,803 3/1962 Metzger 102/43 R adapted to the particular blank cartridge used. 3,060,856 10/1962 Dunn 102/41 3,351,014 11/1967 Metcalf et al. 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures REUSABLE BLANK CARTRIDGE AND RELOADXNG ASSEMBLIES BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and improved reusable blank cartridge and reloading assemblies which provide safe and reliable firing of blank cartridges and easy and quick reloading of blank cartridges.

2. Prior Art Applicant knows of no prior art showing the particular structure of the reusable blank cartridge and reloading assemblies disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTlON The invention provides a new and novel reusable blank cartridge and reloading assemblies which pennit the reloading and reusing of blank cartridges indefinitely. The blank cartridge includes both a design used in conjunction with a conventional rifle primer as well as a conventional shotgun primer. The cartridge has a disc to close its open head to keep the powder in the cartridge without the use of glue or cement or similar means to maintain the disc in position. The disc is preferably made of cardboard that becomes limp when the cartridge is fired to prevent any possible injury. Other material may be used instead provided that it becomes soft or limp so that no possible injury can occur upon the firing of the blank cartridge.

The head end of the cartridge has a recess in its inner wall to receive the disc, which is easily placed in posia tion by hand. A slight convexity just above the recess maintains the disc in position.

The inner end of the cartridge is tapered inwardly to form a bevel at a critical angle to conform to the reloading assemblies described hereinafter. Since a modest amount of force is needed to remove a fired primer from the blank cartridge, as well as to re-insert a new primer, the cartridge is designed to prevent any distortion of its form in these reloading operations, particularly at the location of the bevel.

The cartridge has an opening at its bottom to receive a standard size primer, which is retained by press fit. One embodiment of the cartridge is adapted to receive a standard rifle primer, and the other a standard shotgun primer. However, the cartridge may be easily adapted for almost any size primer.

Moreover, the opening or recess at the bottom of the cartridge permits the insertion of a primer so that the bottom of the primer will be flush with the bottom of the cartridge. This flush insertion of the primer permits the same blank cartridge to be used in varying kinds of hand guns without modification. The blank cartridge is formed in the same sizes as conventional live ammunition, and therefore can be used without modification in regular guns.

Any suitable type of gun powder may be used to fill the blank cartridge. Since the disc is kept in position by a recess and convexity at the head of the cartridge, and prevents the powder from coming out, the powder for my invention is preferably poured loosely into the cartridge instead of being packed hard with a metal insert often used to push the powder down inside the cartridge. Also, conventional blank cartridges crimp the edges of the metal insert to keep it in position since they lack the combination of a recess and convexity at the head of the cartridge of my invention. The loose powder in my cartridge, together with the disc being maintained in position, prevents caking of powder and is an additional safety feature of my invention because when a blank cartridge is fired with caked powder in it, the caked powder may not ignite and is then ejected like a projectile, thereby presenting all of the hazards of live ammunition. Even the crimped metal insert in conventional blank cartridges may act as a projectile with consequent harmful effects.

For extra safety, my invention provides a blank safety cartridge that dispenses with the need for powder because it uses a shotgun shell primer that produces a sufficient blast safely all by itself.

My invention also includes a portable primer removal assembly that permitseasy and rapid removal of the fired primer from a blank cartridge without deforming the cartridge, thereby permitting re-use of the blank cartridge many times. The primer removal assembly has a bevel in the lower inner end of the punch member which corresponds to and supports the inside bevel of the blank cartridge so that the hammering out of the fired primer causes no deformation of the blank cartridge.

Conventional primer removal assemblies generally cause deformation of the cartridge, and are limited to a particular caliber cartridge. My primer removal assembly may be used for more than one caliber where the calibers are fairly close in size, such as a 44 and 45, or 38 and 41.

Similarly, my invention includes a portable primer seater assembly for reloading a cartridge with a primer easily and rapidly without deforming the cartridge. The primer seater assembly is spring loaded and has a plug member terminating in a bevel corresponding to the inner bevel of the cartridge so that no deformation of the cartridge occurs upon reloading it with the primer. Conventional reloading assemblies usually cause deformation of the cartridge, are not readily portable, and

- are complicated in design, besides being limited to a particular caliber.

My reloading assembly is relatively ly easy to assemble and use. The same reloading assembly can be used for calibers relatively close together such as a 44 and 45, or a 38 and 41, besides being readily portable.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a blank cartridge which can be safely used when it is fired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a blank cartridge which can be re-used many times.

A further object of this invention is to provide a blank cartridge which can be easily re-filled with powder.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a blank cartridge which can be used with conventional primers.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a blank cartridge adapted for reloading in assemblies without distortion in its form.

Still another object of this invention is to provide reloading assemblies for use in conjunction with a blank cartridge which permit easy and rapid reloading of the blank cartridge after easy and rapid removal of a fired primer in a fired blank cartridge with the same assemblies being used for a 44 and 45 caliber, and for a 38 and 41 caliber.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a blank cartridge which can be used in various kinds of guns without any modification thereof.

These and other objects will be more readily understood by reference to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of my invention illustrating a reusable blank cartridge partially in section to show the interior details.

FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view of another embodiment of my invention illustrating a primer seater assembly, shown partially in section, including a rifle primer, reusable blank pistol cartridge, and primer plug member.

FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevational view of a primer remover assembly.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of my invention illustrating a reusable blank safety cartridge partially in section.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of my invention illustrating a reusable blank shotshell cartridge partially in section.

With respect to the drawing, the resuable blank cartridge has a hollow cylindrical body 12 terminating in an open head end 14 at one end and a base 16 at the other end.

The open head 14 of the cartridge 10 has a circular recess 18 on the inside wall of the top portion of the head 14 which receives a disc 20 preferably made of cardboard or other suitable material about 25,000ths of an inch thick. The recess 18 is located preferably about onesixteenth of an inch from the end of the open head 14. To facilitate the securing of disc 20 in position, the interior wall of the head 14 has a slight convexity 22 located just above recess 18.

Body 12 of the cartridge 10 has a cylindrical upper bore 24 terminating at its inner end in an inwardly tapered shoulder or bevel 26, which opens into a lower bore 28 of reduced diameter and length. The angle of bevel 26 is preferably between 55 to 60 degrees from the vertical or longitudinal axis of cartridge 10.

Lower bore 28 terminates in a cylindrical opening 30 of a diameter larger than lower bore 28 and at the bottom of cartridge body 12 for-receiving a conventional 4 primer 32. The opening 30 has a slight outward taper 34 at its outer end.

The outer circumference of body 12 has a circular recess 36 cut at its lower end above its base 16 and just above an annular flange 37 having a diameter slightly larger than body 12. Preferably, the cartridge 10 is made from aluminum or other suitable light metal, capable of retaining its form after, being fired and reloaded a number of times.

For ease in assembling the cartridge 10 with primer 32, l have provided a primer seater assembly 38 which has a circular base 40 with a threaded cylindrical top 42 of reduced diameter, and with threaded bore 44, which receives corresponding threads 46 on the circumference of inner end of anvil member 48. Anvil member 48 has an enlarged head 50 surrounded by annular pressure plate 52 having a flanged top 54 pressing on coil spring 56. The flanged top 54 of pressure plate 52 has a circular opening 55 therein which receives a primer 32. Barrel sleeve 58 fits around pressure plate 52 and has threads 60 in its lower inner wall which correspond to the threaded top 42 of base 40.

A plug 62 having a flanged head portion 64 and a tapered lower end 66 with a bevel 67 slip fits into barrel sleeve 58. Bevel 67 corresponds in angle and shape to bevel 27 of cartridge 10. Plug 62 has a body 68 long enough to fully depress the spring 56 when the plug is fully inserted into barrel 58.

For removal of the primer 32 after the blank cartridge 10 has been fired, I have provided a primer removal assembly 68. The primer removal assembly 68 has a cylindrical punch base 70 with a smooth bore 72 through its center. Bore 72 is just large enough in diameter to receive a primer 32 of conventional size. The top portion of punch base 70 has a cylindrical recess 74 cut into the walls. The recess 74 has a diameter larger than bore 72 and large enough to receive the bottom portion of cartridge 10. It also has a bevel 75 at an angle of about 55 to 60 from the vertical or longitudinal axis of punch base 70.

Punch member 76 has an annular flange 78 formed at its top with a center convexity 80. The lower end of punch member 76 has a bevel 82 which tapers into a cylindrical rod 84 having a diameter just fitting into the bore 24 of cartridge 10. The angle of bevel is preferably from 55 to 60 from the vertical or longitudinal axis of punch member 76, to correspond to the bevel 26 of cartridge 10.

The angle of bevel 82 is preferably between 55 to 60 degrees from the vertical. This angle is critical since it must meet the bevel 75 of punch base 70 and meet bevel 26 of cartridge 10 so that when the fired cartridge 10 is hammered down into the primer removal assembly 68, no distortion or other damage will occur to the cartridge 10.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of my invention in the form of a reusable blank safety cartridge 86, having a relatively short body 88 preferably about one half inch in length. Formed similarly to cartridge 10, the safety cartridge has a base 90 with a recess 92 just above an annular flange 94 slightly larger in diameter than its body 88. However, safety cartridge 86 has an outward taper 96 of its inner wall toward its head end 98 at an angle of about preferably l0 from the longitudinal axis of safety cartridge 86. This angle may vary from 5 to 15 without adversely affecting the operation of safety cartridge 86 which dispenses with the use of powder or a cardboard disc since it is designed for the use of a shotgun primer alone.

Another modification of my invention is illustrated in FlG. 5 which shows a reusable blank shotshell case 100 for use in conjunction with a shotgun shell primer. Similarly to cartridge 10, the shotshell case 100 has a base 102 with a recess 104 just above annular flange 106 slightly larger in diameter than its body 108. Also similarly to cartridge 10, the open head 100 of shotshell case 100 has a circular recess 112 on the inside wall of the top portion of head which receives a similar disc 20, and has a similar slight convexity 114.

To accommodate the larger shotgun shell primer, the inner cylindrical bore 1 16 of shotshell case 100 ends in a shorter bevel 118 than the bevel 26 of cartridge 10, although a similar angle of 55 to 60 degrees from the longitudinal axis of shotshell case 100 is maintained.

The lower bore 120 of shotshell case 100, though reduced in diameter with respect to the upper bore 1 16, is larger in diameter than lower bore 28 of cartridge 10 to accommodate the larger size shotgun shell primer. Also, the lower bore 120 terminates in a rounded, outwardly tapered shoulder 122 which has an annular recess 124 at the bottom of base 102 so that the primer will seat flush with the bottom of base 102.

In operation, the cartridge is formed as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing by any suitable means, preferably by machining out of solid aluminum. Primer 32 is inserted into cartridge 10 by the use of primer seater assembly 38. The primer 32 is placed in circular opening 55 of pressure plate 52 of primer seater assembly 38. Cartridge 10 is then placed on top of pressure plate 52 and partially inside barrel sleeve 58. Plug 62 is then inserted into cartridge 10 and hammered downwards by any suitable means, such as the handle of a gun, or a hammer. In this manner, the primer 32 is seated inside the cartridge 10. Due to the bevel 26 of the cartridge corresponding to bevel 67 of plug 62, no distortion of cartridge 10 occurs.

Any type of suitable powder 126 is then poured into the cartridge 10. The powder is not packed, but allowed to remain loose in cartridge 10. Disc is then manually snapped into position insde recess 18 and maintained in position by convexity 20 in conjunction with recess 18.

The loaded blank cartridge 10 is now ready for firing in a conventional gun. Upon firing, the disc 20 is ejected by the powder blast, but becomes immediately limp due to the heat and blast, so that no injury can occur from disc 20. Also, because the powder 126 is loosely packed, no caking of the powder occurs so that there is no formation of a powder projectile which emerges upon firing of the blank cartridge.

The fired blank cartridge is now ready for reloading. But the fired primer 32 must be first removed. The base 16 of cartridge 10 is placed on top of punch base 70. Punch member 76 is then inserted into cartridge 10 and hammered down by any suitable means, such as the handle of a gun or by a hammer. Only a relatively moderate amount of force is needed to remove the tired primer 32 in this manner. Since bevel 75 of punch base 70, bevel 26 of cartridge 10, and bevel 82 of punch member 76, all correspond with each other within about 5, no distortion or other damage occurs to cartridge 10 during this operation so that cartridge 10 may be reloaded and re-used many times thereafter.

Due to the special deepness and wideness of the cut of circular recess 36, the buildup of powder remains and other matter around the outer circumference of cartridge 10 is prevented or greatly minimized. Where the cartridge 10 is about three quarters of an inch long, the preferable depth and width of the circular recess 36 is about five-thousandths of an inch.

The safety cartridge 86 is treated similarly to cartridge 10 with respect to loading it with a primer, removing the tired primer, and reloading with a new primer, except that no powder 126 or disc 20 is needed.

The shotshell case is treated in the same manner as cartridge 10.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is understood that numerous changes in construction andarrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim;

l. A reusable blank cartridge comprising a cylindrical body having a bore therethrough with an open head portion, said bore having its inner end terminating in a bevel tapered inwardly at an angle of from 55 to 60 from the vertical axis of said cartridge, said bevel terminating in a lower bore which in turn tenninates in an opening having an inner diameter substantially larger than the diameter of said lower bore, said open head portion having an inside diameter larger than the inside diameter of said cylindrical body and having an annular recess with side walls parallel to the vertical axis of said cylindrical body, said annular recess having a diameter larger than the diameter of said open head portion;

a convexity formed in the inner wall of said open head portion and above said annular recess;

an annular base having an inner recess formed to receive a gun primer, said annular base having a flange with an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of said cylindrical body; and

an annular recess with side walls parallel to the vertical axis of said cylindrical body and formed in said cylindrical body in its outer diameter above said annular base.

2. A reusable blank cartridge comprising:

an annular base having an inner recess formed to receive a gun primer, said annular base having a flange with an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of said cylindrical body; and

a cylindrical body having a bore therethrough with an open head portion, said bore having its inner end tenninating in a bevel tapered inwardly at an angle from 55 to 60 from the vertical axis of said cartridge, said open head portion having an annular recess with side walls parallel to the vertical axis of said cartridge and formed in its inner wall, said recess having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of said cylindrical body, and a convexity in its inner wall above said recess, said cylindrical body having an annular recess with side walls parallel to the vertical axis of said cylindrical body and formed in its outer diameter above said annular base. 

1. A reusable blank cartridge comprising: a cylindrical body having a bore therethrough with an open head portion, said bore having its inner end terminating in a bevel tapered inwardly at an angle of from 55* to 60* from the vertical axis of said cartridge, said bevel terminating in a lower bore which in turn terminates in an opening having an inner diameter substantially larger than the diameter of said lower bore, said open head portion having an inside diameter larger than the inside diameter of said cylindrical body and having an annular recess with side walls parallel to the vertical axis of said cylindrical body, said annular recess having a diameter larger than the diameter of said open head portion; a convexity formed in the inner wall of said open head portion and above said annular recess; an annular base having an inner recess formed to receive a gun primer, said annular base having a flange with an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of said cylindrical body; and an annular recess with side walls parallel to the vertical axis of said cylindrical body and formed in said cylindrical body in its outer diameter above said annular base.
 2. A reusable blank cartridge comprising: an annular base having an inner recess formed to receive a gun primer, said annular base having a flange with an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of said cylindrical body; and a cylindrical body having a bore therethrough with an open head portion, said bore having its inner end terminating in a bevel tapered inwardly at an angle from 55* to 60* from the vertical axis of said cartridge, said open head portion having an annular recess with side walls parallel to the vertical axis of said cartridge and formed in its inner wall, said recess having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of said cylindrical body, and a convexity in its inner wall above said recess, said cylindrical body having an annular recess with side walls parallel to the vertical axis of said cylindrical body and formed in its outer diameter above said annular base. 